"This is an unpretentious restaurant in a bit of a back street with a brilliant chef and a slightly eccentric owner. Small main dining area with an even smaller side annexe. My tuna steak main was the size and shape of a brick and cooked to perfection in a white miso sauce with wild rice and (mild) jalapeno peppers. Stunning. Because the starters are also substantial, you need to arrive hungry. Excellent value for money" (11/2012)

"The food was different from everywhere else .... the combination of flavours and good quality ingredients made it one of the best meals ive ever had in my life. We eat out quite often and travel across the world but I can honestly say this place is up there with the best" (09/2012)

***

“Best meal in Valencia” (9/2012)

***

"Maybe it does not look like a good restaurant, but looks can be deceiving. This is really a nice restaurant, with very tasty coarses. Nice music and exhibition. Good location, north in the old city centre. Just try it, you won't be disappointed" (09/2012)

"This small restaurant in the old part of Valencia (Carmen), is well worth the visit. The food is stand-out delicious, from our starters through to dessert. And the price for the price you pay for your meal will leave you scratching your head as to why the bill was so low for the quality of ingredients and preparation you experienced" (09/2012)

***

"This was one of the best meals in our two weeks in Valencia and I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone" (09/2012)

"When we decided to go to Valencia for the weekend, we started looking for restaurants on the internet and we came across Refugio as one of the best restaurants in Valencia. We got there friday and we though we were at the wrong restaurant, given the "normal" appearance of Refugio. Still we decided to have dinner there and I had the best meal ever" (08/2012)

"Excellent value for what you pay, Refugio is an enticing well-styled small restaurant down the backstreets of Carmen. The food is different to what you can find elsewhere in Valencia, and the quality to price ratio is startling" (08/2012)

"Absolutely superb highly innovative cooking with superb design presentation and flavours. Each dish was a picture. The proprietor is very jolly friendly and attentive. The chef is very talented. I would recommend the goat's cheese panacotta and the roast pork" (08/2012)

"We were here in March, came back in July with our daughter. The food is still excellent, very innovative and reasonably priced. Wait service was superb. If you are out and about in Carmen, this place is a must!" (07/2012)

"I can't praise this restaurant enough. I've been a few times and am always made to feel welcome. The pony-tail sporting waiter is always cheery and enjoys experimenting with the English language. The menu del dia is outstanding value at 12 euros and the a la carte menu is a joy (the fois gras with ice-cream, an absolute corker!). A real cracker...!!" (06/2012)

"Excellent choice in the Carmen. We've been there three times now and while the menu is limited, the quality of the food is excellent, really tasty starters, mains and deserts, with excellent service to top it all off" (06/2012)

"This was one of the best meals we have enjoyed after spending 4 weeks in various parts of Spain. As others have said, the area in central Valencia is a little off the beaten track and we wondered if we'd made the right choice however the food and service were superb and we would like to go back. Delicious" (05/2012)

***

"Walked past three times and was put off by the basic decor and bright lights-finally decided to give it a go and was the right decision! It's all about the food and the food is way way better than you would have any right to expect from such an unassuming and low key place" (05/2012)

"It was pretty much the best meal we had in Spain. The dishes are inspired and inventive, but nothing is done just for the shock value. The flavor combinations have been deeply studied. Every Meal Should be Like This. Believe what you've read here - go to Refugio!" (05/2012)

"We really enjoyed our dinner at Refugio. Food was really amazing, very refined and totally different from the standard Spanish restaurants; the service was excellent. We will definitely go back when in Valencia!" (04/2012)

"Some clever well thought out dishes cooked with a lot of honesty and thought in such small kitchen.Very cheap too considering the competition. Will definitely be back" (02/2012).

***

"Excellent welcome and friendly, helpful service. The food was interesting... A well balanced fusion of Spanish with global favourites. My strawberry salad was delicious and my partner enjoyed a pork 'spring roll' with tangy tomato dipping sauce. We both loved the chicken tagine and were impressed with the blend of spices and textures. We shared the two dessert choices of almond tart and cake with mixed red fruit sauce and found both delicious. We accompanied our lunch with water and an excellent glass of house white and finished with great coffee... All for a very reasonable price. We would definitely return!" (02/2012).

***

"Nom nom nom!" (02/2012)

***

"We always try to find independent places to eat when we are away, in an attempt to escape the laminated-menu tourist traps. Refugio was exactly what we were after. Small, quiet, friendly. Highly recommended" (02/2012).

"I was there with my wife (argentinian) and a big group of friends (italian) for the new year's eve dinner. We find this place very nice. The quality food is very good and well presented. The staff is nice and welcoming. The price was right. I definitely recommend this place" (01/2012)

***

"We found this restaurant on this web site there were 5 of us all having different things off the menue two of us live in spain one in greece and the other two from the uk we all thought it was some of the best food we had ever eaten for us is was the best food we have had in spain. The wine list was good as was the service and the price was very good we will be back next time round in Valencia" (01/2012)

***

スペイン創作料理を食べるならココ！

生ハム...無い

パエリヤ...無い

美味しい創作料理（日本風味付け多し！）と安くて美味しいワインならあります。

店長の人柄もはなまるです。念のために予約して、21:00のオープンに合わせて訪問すると良いと思います。店長との会話も楽しめますよ～。

(01/2012)

***

"I now know why this restaurant is ranked #1! This was the best food I had in Spain and nearly the best food I have ever eaten! Eating here is an experience for your senses. We tried the potatoes with mangoes as an appetizer. It was beautifully presented and tasted AWESOME! The play of textures and sweet and salty tastes were to die for. Next we ordered the pork. OMG! I'm still salivating! The pork was tender, juicy, and served with a tangy vegetable that enhanced the flavor of the pork when eaten together. We're still talking about the pork we ate at Refugio because it was so good! My other friends had the steak and said it was amazing as well. I highly recommend that anyone visiting Valencia eat at this restaurant! It absolutely, without a doubt should NOT be missed!" (01/2012)

"I definitely recommend this place. The food is very good and well presented. The staff is nice and welcoming" (12/2011).

***

"My wife, son and I had a truly enjoyable meal and evening at Refugio. The food was superbly cooked and presented. Not a large range on the menu but all the better for that. The head chef/manager was very helpful and also very informative. The dishes were a superb mix of mediterranean and South American with some vegetables we had not had before such as Tamarillos - Tree Tomatos. We would all highly recommend this restaurant - different food from that which is in so many other places and the prices are also very good. Another bonus is that you can either bring your own wine or buy there. Book, as can be busy". (12/2011)

***

"Excellent service. State of the art food" (11/2011)

***

"The best restaurant from our stay in Valencia. The staff was calm and polite and we can understand each other even in english :). The main thing though was the food. Both local and modern, vary tasty and fresh, served like a contemporary art. Not to be misted and hope not to become touristic and fast" (11/2011).

."It's a relaxed place and nothing flash to look at but certainly not scruffy. Would definately recommend and return next time in Valencia!!" (11/2011)

***

"The best food of a three night stay by some way". (11/2011)

***

"My friend and I agreed that this was the best meal we had in about 6 years. Very politically incorrect we shared a duck liver as a starter and I had the most amazing tuna ever as a meancourse. They have a good lunch menu deal as well (open from 2 pm). I am seriously considering moving to Valencia because of this restaurant ;)!" (10/2011)

***

"This place is awesome. I am American, important to note as many reviews are from British. The portions are large, inexpensive, super fresh and very light- a gem when traveling to find. You really could share portions as the protein servings are quite large. There are quite a few, yummy vegetarian options. the meat, fish and vegetables were all equally fresh and artistically presented. They don't really speak English but are very friendly and tried to be accomodating to what they thought we wanted. They run out of things but maybe that is why everything is so delicious- whether mussels and octopus in ceviche or steak entree. Modern twist on food, we tried most everything and don't think you can go wrong. the area is also great to walk around after your meal as it is a hip hangout area, young and old alike" (10/2011).

"Sensational food! If you're in Valencia you must go! This was the first restaurant we visited in Valencia and from the outside I was a little dubious! However, we definitely weren't disappointed. The food was exquisite!... Michelin standard and the service was very attentive. The only thing I'd say is that they could've left a little longer between courses - felt a little rushed. You must Go!" (10/2011)

***

"Michelin star food. Fantastic service" (10/2011)

***

"We were on a 2 week wine and food tour of Spain, and this was just a place recommended by a local to go have dinner. It ended up being by far the best meal we had in Valencia! The owner personally made recommendations and every choice was perfect. Small intimate location, friendly service, all good. Michelin quality" (10/2011)"

***

"I booked the restaurant from reviews I read on Tripadvisor and we weren't disapointed! The food is very, very good and the service was excellent. The only downside was there was only 1 other table in the restaurant that evening luckily however plenty of wine and excellent service meant the atmosphere was fun and relaxed regardless. We thoroughly recommend it" (10/2011).

***

"Located in the historic center of Valencia, "Refugio restaurant" is a meeting and surprises place. A relaxed atmosphere, an original decor and, most importantly, extremely careful kitchen, imaginative, high quality, which is merge the Mediterranean diet with the flavors of world. Kitchen of "globalization", mixed, surprising, avant-garde ... Definitively, "Cooking Revolution's", ideal for those who resist to convention and seek new gastronomical experiences. "El Refugio" ("The shelter") is an alternative where price and quality are its true dimension"

***

The duck liver was sensational, terrific, awesome, and the entree with tomato cream, a local especiality, a taste you will never forget. Iberian pork and the beef, marvelous.

***

"We've never been dissapointed; they always manage to produce really good flavours in an imaginative take on meditarranean cooking. We love it".

***

"It's a really nice place with innovative dishes that you'll want to try them all for their suggesting names and won't deceive you with their flavours. They succeed to merge the traditional mediterranean cuisine with not so common ingredients".

***

"Great food, great place, great concept. Modern and innovative, but at the same time non-pretentious cuisine using traditional Mediterranean ingredients, but giving them a whole new life".

***

"You could tell that this was not cooking by numbers, but a real statement of affection for fresh and high quality food, at a very reasonable price. Behind the jolly and relaxed manner, Refugio conveys a seriousness about how it views the food it presents and the traditions that lie behind it – treating them with respectful playfulness".

***

"This little charming place impressed us with the warm approach and innovative cooking. The dinner was amazingly tasteful. Lovely cozy atmosphere, so different from the packed touristic places".

***

"We really enjoyed dinner here. The menu was interesting, innovative and good value. The food delivered on the promises. Even the music selection was cool".